Newhampton Arts Centre and Jazz at Wolverhampton have released a brand new Jazz at NAC line-up for 2022.

The two parties have been working closely to bring carefully selected names to the city in this Spring season of jazz and features some of the world’s most renowned jazz musicians including renowned artists Jim Rattigan and O’Higgins & Luft.

Jim Rattigan will open the jazz season on Wednesday 26th January at 8pm. In his role as the UK’s best known jazz French horn player, Jim Rattigan will be joined by Alcyona Mick (piano), Phil Donkin (double bass), James Maddren (drums) with the Tear string quartet. With the new album ‘When’, this will be their first tour with this music since it was recorded back in December 2019.

Multi award-winning tenor sax player, Mark Lockheart, whose mastery of modern jazz has kept him at the forefront of the music scene ever since his emegence in the 1980s with the legendary Loose Tubes. Featuring; Elliot Galvin (keyboards) Tom Herbert  (bass) & Dave Smith (Drums) will all be heading to Newhampton Arts Centre on Friday 4th February at 8pm

Guitarist Tom Ollendorff has been fast building a reputation as an outstanding improviser and imaginative composer. His 2022 tour is a collaboration with saxophonist Ben Wendel, who over the last two decades has established himself as one of the jazz world’s most prolific and innovative voices. They’ll be joined by Marc Michel (drums) and Conor Chaplin (bass) and heading to Wolverhampton on Wednesday 2nd March at 8pm.

Established giants of the UK jazz scene Dave O’Higgins (sax) & Rob Luft (guitar) are joined by Ross Stanley (organ) & Rod Youngs (drums). Promoting their new CD, ‘O’Higgins & Luft play Monk and Trane’, The repertoire will be made up of Thelonious Monk compositions and tunes played by John Coltrane. On stage at Newhampton Arts Centre on Friday 22nd April.

All hands on Sounds DJs will of course continue to be spin tunes before the shows to creating a real jazz buzz and a relaxed atmosphere for audiences. All tickets are £13.50 this season and can be purchased at www.newhamptonarts.co.uk or by phoning the box office on 01902 572090